Dermatology Coding Alert

Question: What CPT codes apply for PUVA treatment and narrow band treatment?

Maine Subscriber

Answer: If you look at your 2010 CPT code book, you would find the codes listed under Special Dermatological Procedures and constitutes the 96900-96999 set.

You can also look for keywords such as "ultraviolet light therapy," "PUVA," or "photochemotherapy" -- all of which will lead you to the same code series.

Policy: PUVA or phototherapy and photochemotherapy are medically necessary treatments for the following skin conditions after conventional therapies have failed, including but not limited to:

• severely disabling psoriasis (i.e., psoriasis involving 10% or more of the body)

• cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides)

• severe refractory atopic dermatitis/eczema

• severe urticaria pigmentosa (cutaneous mastocytosis)

• severe lichen planus

• severe parapsoriasis

• pityriasis lichenoides

• granuloma annulare

• alopecia areata

• photodermatoses.

Page 8 Get CPC® certified in 4 days " CodingCert.com 2010, Vol. 6, No. 1/Dermatology Coding Alert

-- Technical and coding advice for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Pamela Biffle, CPC, CPC-I, CCS-P, CHCC, CHCO, owner of PB Healthcare Consulting and Education Inc. in Watauga, Texas.